> Snow and ice are quite abrasive stuff
Per wiki ice has mohs hardness of 2 to 4 depending on temperature and if it has fallen out of the sky I guess it shouldn't be mixed with sand or other abrasives.
How is it abrasive then?
Per wiki ice has mohs hardness of 2 to 4 depending on temperature and if it has fallen out of the sky I guess it shouldn't be mixed with sand or other abrasives.
How is it abrasive then?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sci...
>The most important type of ice nuclei is mineral dusts blown into the atmosphere from deserts, arid lands, and agricultural fields. The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) defines minerals as naturally occurring solid substances formed in geological processes.
IIRC snow makers use particulates too.
1. All snow has some level of particulates, especially older snow (moreso if there has been melting, because the particles/dirt/whatever concentrate on top).
2. Cornering on piste would put pretty big stresses on the tip of the edge. This could perhaps cause the edge to bend and curl, or even break little pieces off from metal fatigue. I think this would be a bigger deal in most winter skiing conditions.
In central european ski resorts, largest parts of ski lopes are not natural snow anymore (or are mostly mixed natural/artificial). And artificial snow has far more sharp crystals than natural snow.
You're right. Snow isn't hard enough, but, it's probably a mistake to assume it's just snow.
Pressure is a huge variable. In a typical Moh's test, there is very little: just a person rubbing two stones together by hand. But with enough pressure, liquid water (hardness: none) can cut steel. Lead can damage steel or quartz if fired out of a gun. Etc.
And as others have mentioned, snow might have particles of other materials in it as well. But just to be clear: Moh's scale does not mean that pure ice could never abrade steel.